Amends the School Code. Requires, subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education, in consultation with the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board, to establish the School Resource Officer Grant Program to fund salaries and any other costs associated with the hiring of an active law enforcement officer as a school resource officer. Provides that eligible entities are schools or school districts that have hired an active law enforcement officer as a school resource officer and the law enforcement agency or agencies that a school or school district has an intergovernmental agreement with to employ a school resource officer. Provides that any funds distributed to an eligible entity under the Program shall be equally distributed between the eligible entities in an intergovernmental agreement to employ a school resource officer. Allows the State Board of Education, in consultation with the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board, to adopt rules as needed for the Program's implementation and the distribution of grants. Makes a conforming change.
Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. With respect to special education teacher scholarships, provides that up to 50 additional scholarships may be awarded each year to persons who qualify, subject to appropriation to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission for this purpose.
Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Provides that, by January 1, 2027, the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State's Work Incentives Planning and Assistance program, shall establish an efficient process by which information about the Work Incentives Planning and Assistance program is disseminated through the State Board to students, parents and guardians, transition planning and services coordinators at school districts, special education joint agreements, and other relevant educational agencies. Effective immediately.
Appropriates $5,000,000 to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission for the Human Services Professional Loan Repayment Program. Effective July 1, 2026.
Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that each taxpayer that makes a donation to an educational improvement organization for aviation during the taxable year may apply to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for an income tax credit in an amount not to exceed the amount of the taxpayer's donation that is used to provide scholarships for prospective pilots, airline and aerospace mechanics, and other aviation and aerospace professionals as part of a program that operates in this State. Requires educational improvement organizations for aviation to apply to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to be eligible to accept donations that qualify for the credit. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity may award no more than $5,000,000 in credits under the program in any calendar year. Effective immediately.
Appropriates $5,000,000 to the State Board of Education to award funding under the Education of Homeless Children and Youth State Grant Program to be used to support programming for students at risk for or experiencing homelessness. Effective July 1, 2026.
Amends the Downstate Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that, through June 30, 2029 (instead of June 30, 2026), an annuitant may accept employment as a teacher without impairing his or her retirement status if that employment is not within the school year during which service was terminated and does not exceed 120 paid days or 600 paid hours in each school year, but not more than 100 paid days in the same classroom. Makes a conforming change. Effective immediately.
Creates the Workforce Pipeline Act. Provides that beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, each institution (defined as a public high school, school district, or nonpublic high school recognized by the State Board of Education) shall provide access to at least one Pipeline Program in a high-need occupation. Requires the State Board, in consultation with the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, to develop a model memorandum of understanding for an institution and a local workforce partner. Requires an employer participating in a Pipeline Program to maintain workers' compensation and general liability insurance. Provides that participation in a Pipeline Program does not create civil liability for an employer beyond the employer's statutory duties, as long as the employer acts in good faith and complies with safety requirements. Provides that an institution's chief procurement office shall establish a bid preference, not to exceed 5%, for an employer participating in a Pipeline Program. Allows a student to participate in a Pipeline Program with parental consent if under the age of 18. Provides that an institution and a local workforce partner may establish articulation agreements for credit, credentials, or hours earned. Requires an employer to comply with all safety standards applicable to minors and a mentor or supervisor to comply with an institution's volunteer or contractor background-check procedures. Requires the State Board to submit a one-page summary on Pipeline Programs to the General Assembly. Provides that nothing in the Act may be construed as a mandate requiring an institution to incur additional expenditures or establish new programs. Allows the State Board and the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to adopt any rules necessary to implement the Act. Repeals the Act on July 1, 2032. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.
Amends the School Safety Drill Act. Provides that school districts and private schools in the State shall consider the use of mobile panic alert systems in the development of their school emergency and crisis response plans. Provides that the mobile panic alert system, if used, shall be known as "Alyssa's Alert" and shall be capable of connecting to diverse emergency service technologies to ensure real-time coordination between multiple first responder agencies. Provides that the mobile panic alert system, if used, must be capable of integrating with local, public-safety, answering-point infrastructures to transmit 9-1-1 calls and mobile activations. Requires the State Board of Education to conduct market research, in consultation with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, to identify whether an existing market of supply of mobile panic alert systems that satisfy the requirements under the amendatory provisions is available in the State from multiple vendors for use by school districts. Requires the State Board of Education, in consultation with the Illinois State Police and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, to develop standards for a mobile panic alert system. Requires the State Board of Education to establish and administer a Mobile Panic Alert System Grant Program. Provides that school districts and private schools may apply to the State Board of Education for a Program grant to obtain a mobile panic alert system in order to better prepare for emergency responses. Provides that Program grants shall be awarded from moneys appropriated for that purpose from the Mobile Panic Alert System Grant Fund. Amends the State Finance Act to make a conforming change.
Amends the College Campus Press Act. Defines "public media produced at a State-sponsored institution of higher learning". Provides that all public media produced at a State-sponsored institution of higher learning is a public forum for expression by the employees producing the media at the institution of higher learning. Provides that public media produced at a State-sponsored institution of higher learning is not subject to prior review by public officials of the State-sponsored institution of higher learning. Allows an employee or agent of an entity creating or distributing public media produced at a State-sponsored institution of higher learning to commence a civil action to obtain appropriate injunctive and declaratory relief as determined by a court for violation of the Act by such State-sponsored institution of higher learning. Provides that expression made by an employee or agent of an entity creating or distributing public media produced at a State-sponsored institution of higher learning is neither expression of campus policy nor speech attributable to a State-sponsored institution of higher learning. Provides that a State-sponsored institution of higher learning is immune from any lawsuit arising from expression actually made in public media produced at a State-sponsored institution of higher learning. Makes other changes.
